BIGELF – Hex

There is no band like Bigelf. At least not any band that is alive today. Bigelf is heavy influenced by the 60’s and the 70’s, and for that I am thankful. I can’t think of any band at all that to Bigelf’s extent has got a sound that’s this, say, vintage. Bigelf delivers a sound you haven’t heard since rock was a teenager, and they take you way beyond melancholy.

The similarities with 70’s Black Sabbath ( e.g. Carry The Load ) and Pink Floyd ( e.g. Bats In The Belfry II ) are so utterly obvious, – I’m probably only one in a long line of critics who mentions it. Though, with Bigelf’s bulletproof self-esteem, and great musical abilities, they do it all in honour. Plagiarism won’t be a word. This is about roots. You can’t say Stevie Ray Vaughan was ripping of Robert Johnson.

Bigelf is serious. I’ve can’t remember listening to a more creative record than Hex for a very long time. Here is depth, even if it’s talk about punching groovers like Pain Killers or slow down and atmospheric material with Tommy Bolin-ish guitar play like Disappear. Even the tracks that are less fascinating melody-wise, stay as interesting and great listening experiences due to the constantly changing inner landscape of the arrangements.

At the end of the album Bigelf salutes the variety of rock through a three track finale with the great psychedelic hard-pop-blast Burning Bridges, flirting with James Bond-theme arrangements and the jazz/rock fusion genre through Bats In The Belfry I, and at last $, being a stripped down piano and vocal only effort from singer / piano player / producer Damon Fox. I think that guy knows what he wants in the studio, and as far as I can see he’s got it.